Category Archives: Em português

Theory of Degrowth Questions Validity of Extractive Economy

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By Marcela Valente, Tierramerica | Rebelion. A number of Latin American countries have achieved economic growth by an extractivist model of production that increases the gross domestic product (GDP) at the cost of the intensive use of gradually exhausted natural resources such as: large-scaling mining with cyanide to cause major environmental impacts, or monoculture plantations for export, at the expense of diversified rural production.

The Man Who Planted Trees

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By Frederic Back, You Tube | Based on Jean Giono’s short story “The Man Who Planted Trees.” Director Frédéric Back’s marvellous interpretation of Giono’s allegory won an Oscar for short animation. The story is a tribute to hard work and patience. (English | French | Portuguese | Spanish, 30 min.)

Brazilians Push to Prosecute Military Junta’s Human Rights Crimes, Pushed Back by Judge

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By Fabiana Frayssinet, IPS | Staff, Human Rights Watch | Colin M. Snider, Americas South and North. In the first serious move by Brazil to confront the cases of murder, disappearance and torture from its junta years, Transitional Justice (Justiça de Transición), a group of public prosecutors from several Brazilian states, plans to prosecute the forced disappearances during the 1964-1985 dictatorship based on the concept that these kidnappings are ongoing crimes. As their first case, Brazilian federal prosecutors announced they would try retired Col. Sebastião Curió Rodrigues de Moura for “aggravated kidnapping” for his alleged role in 5 enforced disappearances in Pará state in 1974. UPDATES: March 20th, Judge Joao Matos halts prosecution; prosecutors plan to appeal. (English | Spanish | Portuguese)

Haiti’s Elected Mayors Dismissed, Illegally Replaced by Presidential Appointees

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By Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Thirteen Haitian mayors were dismissed and replaced on Feb 18th by presidential decree. In a press conference, one mayor said that a new individual recently arrived claiming to be his municipality’s new mayor, and two days later he got a letter telling him to assist this person in taking inventory of the region’s heritage. Another mayor wrote in open letter on Feb 3rd that his life is under threat. Secretary of the Interior Georges Racine is thought to be behind the wave of illegal dismissals. UPDATE HPN Mar 23, AHP Mar 28: Protesters in St Marc block entry to municipal buildings to prevent installment of Martelly appointees. (English | Portuguese)

The Giving Moringa Tree

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By Kristin Palitza, IPS | Informações de Envolverde | Holistic Health | You Tube | Haiti Chery. Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree that produces leaves full of nutrients and medicines, and pods full of protein. The seeds can purify water and furnish cooking oil, and the flowers are decorative and medicinal. Moringa already grows in most of the South where it is often called Malunggai. In Haiti, it is called Benzolivier. Includes a recipe and a water-purification procedure. (English | Portuguese)

In Famatina, Water Is Worth Far More Than Gold

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By Marcela Valente, IPS | Periodismo Humano | TN Argentina | You Tube. Thousands in the northwest Argentina province of La Rioja are mobilizing to stop an open-cast gold mining project in the Nevados de Famatina, a snowy peak that is the semi-arid area’s sole source of drinking water. “We take turns [blocking the road to the mountain], and we’re going to hold our ground until the government and the company drop this project,” – Carina Diaz Moreno, teacher from Famatima. (English | Spanish | Portuguese | Includes music video)

‘Manifesto for Human Rights of Haitian Immigrants in Brazil’ Drafted by Latin Americans

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Jesuit Refugee Service for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC SJR), AlterPresse | Translated by Dady Chery, Haiti | Centro de Direitos Humanos e Cidadania do Imigrante. Signatories to a manifesto for the human rights of Haitian immigrants recommend that the Brazilian government work with UNASUR, CELAC, and various Latin-American governmental and non-governmental organizations to host the new Haitian immigrants in South America. (English | French | Portuguese)

Haitians Emigrating to Brazil Undocumented

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ImmiBy Staff, Efe via Listín Diario | By Najla Passos, Carta Maior | Translated from Spanish and Portuguese by David Holmes Morris for lo-de-alla. Some 500 undocumented Haitian immigrants entered the Brazilian city of Brasileia, in the last three days of 2011. The illegal entry might have been dangerous and mediated by human traffickers. Some Brazilian officials are suggesting that a set number of Haitian immigrants should be allowed legal entry into the country. UPDATE on Feb 2, 2012 from AlterPresse: During a visit to Haiti, Brazilian President Dilma Rousef said that her country would grant 1200 visas per year for the next five years for the legal entry of Haitians into Brazil. (English | Spanish, Portuguese)

Brazilian MINUSTAH Troops Torture Three Haitians Near Death

By RNDDH Staff, Alter Presse (French) | Defend Haiti (English). Enough is enough. No Haitian should render any more service to MINUSTAH, no matter how small, and this should continue until we see their backs. On the night of Dec 13-14, Brazilian MINUSTAH soldiers robbed, undressed, and beat nearly to death three young Haitian workers (men aged 29, 20, and 19) who had the bad luck of having their truck break down at night after delivering water to Cite Soleil. Witnesses got the license plate number and particulars of the UN vehicle that carried the criminals. UPDATE Jan 25, 2012 – MINUSTAH reports a secret ‘preliminary investigation’ one month after the fact, denies everything, and promises more investigation. Sound familiar? UPDATE Feb 13, 2012 – This article is now available Portuguese, courtesy of Murilo Otávio Rodrigues Paes Leme. Obrigado! (English | French | Portuguese)

Iceland’s Ongoing Revolution

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By Deena Stryker, Daily Kos. In Iceland the financial crisis resulted in people recovering their sovereign rights through a new approach to direct participatory democracy that led to a new Constitution. (English | French | Portuguese | Spanish)

MINUSTAH’s Gang Rapes (now also in Portuguese)

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By Michaëlle Desrosiers and Franck Seguy, A l’Encontre | Translated by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery | Translated by Diaro Octubre. MINUSTAH almost exclusively attacks those who are most despised, humbled, and impoverished. (English | French | Spanish | Portuguese)

Dady Chery’s Top 10 Reasons Why MINUSTAH Should Go – Video by Kevin Pina and Jean Ristil

By Dady Chery (English, French) | Spanish translation by Fernando Moyano, DESACATO | Portuguese translation by Murilo Otávio Rodrigues Paes Leme, zqxjkv0.blogspot.com. MINUSTAH’s worst crime so far is the killing of over 6000 Haitians with cholera. It is a degraded, degrading, and unwanted occupation force that must go. (English | French | Spanish | Protuguese)

Eduardo Galeano: Haiti, Occupied Country

By Eduardo Galeano, Cuba Si. “It is worth repeating it once again, so that the deaf can hear: Haiti was the founding country of the independence of America and the first one that defeated slavery in the world. It deserves much more than the fame sprung from its misfortunes.” – Eduardo Galeano. (English | French | Portuguese | Spanish)

The Oil We Eat: Following the Food Chain Back to Iraq

By Richard Manning, Harper’s. The total amount of plant mass created by Earth per year — the total yearly budget for life — is called the planet’s “primary productivity.” We humans, a single species among millions, consume about 40 percent of Earth’s primary productivity: 40 percent of all there is. We 6 billion have simply stolen the food, the rich among us a lot more than the rest. (English | Portuguese)